NYPD top cop Bill Bratton to march in St. Patrick's Day parade

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton has said he will march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, separating him from the mayor and other city officials who are boycotting the celebration.

I will be marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” Mr. Bratton said, declining to elaborate. Mr. de Blasio stood next to him as he made his remarks.

De Blasio, in a break from his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, will not march in the 5th Avenue parade this year–though he has not barred city workers from marching in uniform, as some wanted.

The City Council will not march as a group, but individual members can take part.Parade organizers say gays are welcome to march in the parade as long as they do not identify their sexual orientation.

The St. Patrick’s parade should be a time when all New Yorkers can come together and march openly as who they are — but right now that is not the case for the LGBT community,” City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said in a statement earlier this week.

“I hope the organizers will eventually realize that the parade will be better when all New Yorkers can march openly and proudly.”

The news comes as one of New York’s top clerice Father Brian Jordan has said that gay people should be accepted and allowed to march the parade. He thinks Mayor De Blasio should negotiate and compromise for this year’s parade.

Police Commissioner Kelly and Members of the St. Patricks Day Parade Committee: